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(Nd Model.)

H. K. WHITNER. GUT-OFF TO PREVENT FREEZING IN WATER PIPES. No. 386,098.

Patented July 10, 1888.

N. PEYERS, Pholoiilhngmphen wminmn. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT ()rrrcs.

HIRAM K. VHITNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HENRY H. \VIBIRT,TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

CUT-OFF TO PREVENT FREEZING IN WATER-PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,098, dated July 10,1888.

(No model.)

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, HIRAM K. WHITNEaof New York, in the county and Stateof New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inApparatus for the Prevention of Freezing of Water in \Vater'ServicePipes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices whereby a vent is openedin a water-service pipe to cause a flow of water upon the occurrence ofa temperature sufficiently low to endanger the freezing of the water inthe pipes. It also involves the closing of such vent upon therestoration of the temperature of the water to a degree whereby freezingis not imminent.

I will describe my improvement, which I designate a hydrothermostat, indetail, and then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section ofapparatus embodying my improvement. I have shown it as partly brokenaway to save space. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the plane ofthe line a: 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of apparatus ofmodified form embodying my improvement, also partly broken away to savespace. Fig. 4 is a transverse section thereof taken on the plane of thedotted line y y, Fig. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section of anothermodification.

Similar letters of reference designate correpending parts in all thefigures.

Referring first to the example of my in1- provcmcnt illustrated in Figs.1 and 2, A designates an expansible and contractible bar, which may beof any suitable metal-as, for instance, zinc. Iprefer that itshould beround. It is inclosed in a tube, B, also of metal, but is of lessdiameter than the interior of said tube. The tube B has secured to itnear one end a coupling-piece, G. This coupling is intended to beconnected in any suitable manner with a water-service pipe in abuilding. The end of the bar A adjacent to the couplingpiece 0 isscrew-threaded for a distance, and a nut, G, engages therewith. This nutis barshaped, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, and its ends abut againstthe end of the tube B. Its shape admits of the passage of water from theservice-pipe into the tube 13 freely. By rotating this nut thethermostat may be properly adjusted. Near its other end the tube B hassecured to it a cock, B, which cock, as

B vertical.

shown, is provided with a port, a. The end of the bar A adjacent to thecock has connected to it or formed with it an arm-like portion, I). Theother end of this arm-like portion is pivotally connected to one end ofa lever, l, which lever is fulcrumed upon a pin or stud, 0, extendingbetween the side walls of the shell of the cook. The other end of thelever has pivotally connected to it a valve, d. This valve, which mayhave an outer coating of rubber, leather, or similar material, isadapted to close the inner end of the port a of the cock. A spring, a,secured, as shown, to thelever I, nearone end of latter, and,bearing atthe other against the inner surface of the shell of the cock, tends toforce said valve to its seat. This form of my improvement mayadvantageously be arranged with the tube Vhen the temperature of thewater in the tube B approaches a point where freezing will ensue, theexpansihle and contractible bar contractsfzffitf'tirfieby' operates thelever I, causing the valve d to be lifted from its scat. \Vater willthen flow freely from the service-pipe through the tube B and out at theport of the cock, which latter may be connected in any suitable mannerwith 11 waste-pipe. As water of higher temperature circulates throughthe tube B, the bar A will again expand, causing the closing of the portof the cock, and necessarily checking thefiow of water. until thetemperature of thewater in thetuhe B approaches the freezing-poin whenthe ha r A will be again operated to cause a How of water, and so on atintervals.

In theexample of my in'iprovement illus trated in Figs. 3 and 4 I haveshown two expansible and contractible bars, A A, arranged in the tube B.The bar A has a portion, f, extending into the couplingpiece O. This portionfis connected, as shown, to the short arm of a lever, F, l'ulcrumedupon a pin extending between the side walls of the coupling piece. Thelong arm of the lever F is simi larly connected to a portion, f, of thebar A. The other end of the bar A is screw-threaded, and extends througha hole in a crossbar, F, resting near its ends upon the end of the tubeB. A nut, G, on the screw-threaded end of the rod A beyond the bar F maybe operated to adjust the bars A A. The bar A at its other end isscrewthreaded, and extends It will remain in this condition through alongitudinal slot in the bar F. Such'screw-threaded end of the bar Aengages a tapped hole in a link, F which link has formed in it alongitudinal slot, through which extends the adjacent end of the leverI. By the use of two expansible and contractible bars, arranged asdescribed, a very powerful action is produced upon the lever I.

In the example of my improvement shown in Figs. 3 and 4 I prefer toconstruct the coupling 0 in two sections, as shown, whereby thearrangement and adjustment of the parts are facilitated.

In the example of my improvement illustrated in Fig. 5 the lever I isshown as extending backwardly within the cock and approximately parallelwith the expansible and eontractible bar. Near one end it is providedwith two reversely-extending hooked portions, 8 s. The portion 8 extendsloosely through a suitable aperture in the bar A nearthe adjacent endthereof; and the portion 8 extends loosely through a correspondingaperture formed in a portion of a metal ring, It, which ring is securedby screw-threads or otherwise- It will to the interior of the shell ofthe cock. be readily seen that when the bar A contracts or expands itwill cause the lever I to be rocked on its fulcrum in the ring R. Nearits other end the lever is bent at approximate right angles to itslength, and such bent portion, as shown, is provided with a transverseaperture, through which extends the thermostat. This, however. is notwholly essential, as the lever might be bent in such manner as to extendabout the thermostat. This bent portion need only constitute in effect apart of the lever, and need not be made integral therewith-as, forinstance, the said aperture might be of such length that thelongitudinal portion of the lever would extend through it. In thisexample of my improvement, as also in that shown in Fig. 1, I have shownthe nozzle constituting the port ofthe cock as having a screwthreadedconnection with the shell of the cock. By this means provision isafforded for moving the valve-seat inwardly or outwardly and thusvarying the length of throw which may be imparted to the lever by thebar A, as desired. In this example also the tube or receptacle B and thecock are shown as connected up in the service-pipe, and constitute ineffect a sec tion of the servioe-pipe.

S designates pieces of wood, glass, or similar material, which arecapable of but slight expansion and contraction during variations intemperature. I have shown but two such pieces, the same being in theshape of rods; but I may use any desired number; or a tube,which shallsurround and inclose the thermostat within the tube 13, may be used.These rods S are rigidly secured at one end to the ring R and at theother end to the bar A. The rods S, being practically non contractibleor expansible, operate to prevent contraction or expansion of the bar Ain the direction of the length of the tube B, at or near the point wherethe connection is made between the rods S and the bar A. Increasedcontraction or expansion will therefore occur at or near the end of thebar A, which is connected to the lever I, whereby a wider range ofmovement of the lever is attained and its rapidity of movementfacilitated. These rods S coustitute an abutment for the bar A, at oneend of the latter.

It will be observed that by using an abutment of the nature andarrangement shown and described the position of the abutment will not bealtered by possible contraction or expansion of the tube B, as would bethe case were the abutment for the bar A secured di rectly to the tubeB. I

All the examples of myimprovement shown may be placed in any desiredrelation to the service-pipe and waste-pipe, and will preferably bearranged at the point of greatest exposure in the building which isfarthest from the street-main.

It will be seen that by my improvement variations in temperature of thewater only cause the opening of the valve, wherehyaflow of water ensueswhich counteracts the tendency to freeze. All waste of water,other thansufficient to counteract such tendency, is therefore avoided.

My improvement is simple, dircctin action, and compact, while it may bereadily shipped or sold as an article of merchandise or plumbers supply.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination, with a water-service pipe, of a tube connectedtherewith, a contractible and expansible bar arranged in said tube, acock provided with a port connected with said tube, a lever connected tosaid bar and arranged in the cock, and a valve connected to the lever,substantially as described, whereby variations of temperatu re in thewater in the tube will cause said bar to operate the lever to open theport of the cock and cause a How of water from the service-pipe or tocause the closing of said port and a stoppage of flow of the water.

'2. The combination of a water-service pipe, a receptacle for waterconnected therewith, a contractible and expansible bar arranged in saidreceptacle, a cock provided with a port connected with said receptacleand arranged approximately in line therewith, a le er connected withsaid bar and arranged in the cock, and having aportion extendingapproximately parallel therewith and another portion at right anglesthereto, a valve connected to the lever, and an approximatelynon-contractible and non-expansible abutment for said bar arranged inthe receptacle and extending into the cock, substantially as specified.

HIRAM K. WHITNER.

YVitnesses:

D. H. DRISCOLL, JAMES D. GRISWOLD.

